New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Phase-III of a scheme to strengthen and upgrade existing central and state government medical colleges, adding 5,000 postgraduate seats.

The Cabinet also approved extending the central scheme for upgrading government medical colleges to increase 5,023 MBBS seats, with an enhanced cost ceiling of Rs 1.50 crore per seat, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

The initiative aims to significantly boost undergraduate medical capacity, increase availability of specialist doctors through additional postgraduate seats, and enable the introduction of new specialities across government medical institutions, an official statement said.